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| United States Patent |
5,351,524
|
|
Lanham
|
October 4, 1994
|
Gas leak detection test station
Abstract
To be used in a gas supply line having an upstream main on/off valve, a
meter downstream of the valve, and a pressure regulator intermediate of
the valve and meter, the gas supply line being used to supply gas to
appliances at an installation site, a gas leak detection test station
including a fitting connected in fluid communication with the line
downstream of the pressure regulator, fitting having a body with a main
inlet opening, a main outlet opening, and a flow path between the
openings. The station further having a fixed valve body portion integrally
formed with the body of the fitting, the fixed valve body having a movable
valve portion which is movable between a normal valve closed position and
a valve open position, the movable valve portion normally being urged
towards the normal closed position, the body portion being adapted for
connection with a manometer.
| Inventors:
|
Lanham; David W. (941 SW. 108th Ave., Pembroke Pines, FL 33026)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
110552 |
| Filed:
|
August 23, 1993 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
73/40.5R |
| Intern'l Class: |
G01M 003/28 |
| Field of Search: |
73/40.5 R,46,49.8
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 3352147 | Nov., 1967 | Ligon | 73/40.
|
| 3521481 | Jul., 1970 | Tyrone | 73/40.
|
| 4895018 | Jan., 1990 | Asbra | 73/40.
|
| 4984448 | Jan., 1991 | Jordan et al. | 73/40.
|
| 5152167 | Oct., 1992 | Moody | 73/40.
|
| 5183078 | Feb., 1993 | Sorrell | 73/40.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2239529 | Jul., 1991 | GB | 73/40.
|
Primary Examiner: Williams; Hezron E.
Assistant Examiner: Roskos; Joseph W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Malloy & Malloy
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. To be utilized in a gas supply line having an upstream main on/off
valve, a meter downstream of the valve, and a pressure regulator
intermediate of the valve and meter which is used to supply gas to
appliances at an installation site, and to be connected between a pair of
adjacent, conventional flow-through pipes, a test station comprising:
a substantially small and compact pipe fitting connected in fluid flow
communication in the gas supply line downstream of the pressure regulator
and between the pair of conventional flow-through pipes,
said pipe fitting including a body formed of a standard pipe material,
said body including a first pipe opening, a second pipe opening, and a flow
path therebetween,
said body at said first pipe opening and said second pipe opening including
pipe connection means structured and disposed to secure said pipe fitting
in fluid flow, leak-free communication in a conventional pipe connecting
manner between the pair of conventional flow-through pipes such that said
pipe fitting functions as an ordinary link segment of the gas supply line,
a fixed valve body portion integrally formed in said pipe fitting of said
standard pipe material, said valve body portion including a port disposed
in fluid flow communication with said flow path and having an exteriorly
open distal end,
a movable valve portion means captivated in said fixed valve body portion
and moveable relative to said port between a normal valve closed position
and a valve open position,
said moveable valve portion means including biasing means normally urging
said movable valve portion means to said normal closed position and
requiring compressive urging of said biasing means, by applying force to
said movable valve portion means, in order to move said movable valve
portion means to said valve open position wherein free fluid flow into and
out of the port of said fixed valve body portion is achieved, and
manometer connection means disposed on said fixed valve body portion
structured and disposed to enable a manometer to be removably yet securely
connected to said fixed valve body portion in fluid flow communication
with said port and to simultaneously move said movable valve portion means
to said valve opening position such that the manometer is able to
determine pressure levels in the gas supply line.
2. The test station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fitting is of
metallic material.
3. The test station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fitting is of
plastic material.
4. The test station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on the body
for connecting the fitting into the line comprise thread means.
5. The test station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on the body
portion for temporary connecting a manometer to the fixed valve body
portion comprises threads.
6. The test station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed valve body
portion and said movable valve body portion comprise a Schraeder-type
valve means.
7. The test station as in claim 1 wherein cap means are provided on the
fixed valve body portion closing said port.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a test station for a gas supply line.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Throughout the nation, there are many installation sites which use natural
gas, homes, for example. Conventionally, the natural gas is provided
through a riser tube or supply line with the flow of gas supplied to the
home being controlled by a main on/off valve; and it then passes through a
pressure regulator and through a meter. The metered gas then flows into
the installation site through a test station on demand, that is, upon the
use of an appliance(s) and the like.
There has long been a problem of gas leaks which is troublesome and which
is well known and appreciated in the field. One general source of leaks
are at joints or connections of the gas line to appliances within the
installation site. For this reason, a test station is conventionally
installed in the line downstream of the meter to determine if there are
any gas leaks at the installation site. The set up of the test station
often becomes another annoying source of leaks.
Generally speaking, leaks usually develop at joints which connect tubular
gas pipe sections in fluid communication with one another or to an
appliance. To conduct a test, a manometer is connected into the gas line
at the test station downstream of the pressure regulator and meter.
Thereafter, all of the utility gas outlet valves are closed and the main
upstream on/off valve is closed. If the pressure as sensed by the
manometer decreases in the downstream service line, this, of course,
signals that there is a leak which needs to be repaired.
As can be readily appreciated, there are many types and sizes of set ups
for these test stations which are dictated in part by the wide variety of
construction sites which exist. Often, the space for a suitable test
station is very cramped or of an unusual configuration being confined by
surrounding building structure. Conventional test stations are composed of
interconnected plumbing type fittings, such as T-shaped members, elbows,
and tubular links. They are more often than not unsightly, tortured,
configurations of pieces of plumbing which are prone to troublesome leaks.
It is important that a test station be small and compact, easily installed,
and more efficient than previously used gas line testing stations.
Further, the plugs at conventional test stations are attractive to smaller
children who are apt to remove one by unscrewing it and with this, there
is attendant, unsafe, resulting leaks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved test
station for a gas supply line which is easily installed, safe, easily
utilized, and compact. Thus, this invention is of a one-piece gas line
test station which includes a fitting, such an elbow, with a main inlet
and a main outlet and a normally closed valve between the inlet and
outlet. The valve includes a first fixed valve means portion integral with
the fitting and a separate movable valve means portion, movable from a
normally closed position to a temporary open position for gas pressure
testing purposes. Means are provided in between the valve means portions
normally urging the portions into a valve closed position with the movable
valve portion being yieldable to temporarily establish a valve open
position for testing. Upon opening the valve, energy is stored in a
biasing means or spring means tending to close the valve. Threads are
preferably provided on the fitting comprising means to connect the fitting
in fluid communication in a gas supply line. Finally, means are also
provided to operably connect the valve in fluid communication to a
manometer to test for leaks.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a gas leak detection station to
be used in conjunction with a water manometer wherein the station is a
permanent installation and upon testing, there is not a need to be
concerned with gas leakage at the station when checking piping at an
installation for leaks. The gas leak testing station is compact and
replaces a variety of conventional leak detection and load set devices
which are composed of numerous interconnected fittings and complicated
procedures. Generally, the test station, once installed, saves time,
effort, and money- The test station provides for one-step leak testing
from the high pressure on/off valve on the riser through the meter and the
complete downstream supply line system. Further, it provides for setting
of load pressures and regulator lock-up and allows more versatility in
setting meters because the test station is compact saving space.
Generally, the fitting included in the test station is of integral or
one-piece construction, except for a movable valve portion, which offers
safety against leaks and it can be installed at any location downstream of
the meter regulator. Ease of use and reliability makes the test station
safe and efficient; and it can be used on a wide variety of diameters
characteristic of piping systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a gas supply line.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a test station for a gas supply line with a
portion of a manometer illustrating the distal end thereof.
FIG. 3 is a partial view in cross section of the valve means included
integrally on the fitting seen in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a gas supply line
generally indicated by the numeral 10. It has a main on/off valve 12, a
pressure regulator 14, a meter 16, a check valve 18, if desired, and a gas
leak detection test station 20 to be described more fully hereinafter. Gas
is supplied to an installation site in the direction of the arrowed line
22 leading to a line 24 to an installation site. Referring now to the test
station 20, it is seen in FIG. 2 to include a fitting 24 to be connected
in fluid communication in the line downstream of the pressure regulator.
The fitting includes a body 26 having a main inlet opening 28 and a main
outlet opening 30 with a flow path internally between the openings 28 and
30. Means are provided for connecting the fitting into the line in fluid
communication as by the thread means 32 and 34. Integral with the fitting
body is a fixed valve body portion 36 which, as seen in FIG. 3, defines a
port 39 and includes the fixed valve body portion 36 which extends
outwardly from the valve body and which is in open communication with the
flow path between the main inlet and outlet openings 28 and 30,
respectively, of the body portion. There may be a removable valve portion
indicated generally by the numeral 41 in the fixed valve body portion. In
any event, there is a movable valve portion means 55 movable between a
normally closed position and the valve open position shown. There are
means on the body portion for connecting a manometer to the fixed valve
portion as indicated by the threads 43. The distal end of a manometer as
shown in FIG. 2 and indicated by the numeral 51 is provided with a
terminal end zone as at 53 which is adapted for threaded engagement with
the threads 43 and to simultaneously push the distal end of the movable
valve portion means 55 seen in FIG. 2 from the normally closed position to
the open position shown in FIG. 3 when the manometer is in threaded
engagement therewith, the nose portion 57 of the manometer being adapted
to push the distal end 55 of the movable valve body portion into the open
position shown when in threaded engagement with the fixed valve body
portion. In use, the main on/off valve 12 is closed and after all of the
valves in the downstream gas supply system are closed. Thereafter, the
manometer is connected to the fixed valve body portion 36 and threadably
advanced on the threads 43 opening the valve. Thereafter, any leaks in the
line downstream of the pressure regulator will be detected by the
manometer.
In the preferred embodiment, the improved test station will include a
fitting of molded one piece material preferably metal or plastic and it is
in sealing relation in the line downstream of the regulator. Preferably,
it includes a cap 52 to normally close the opening in the terminal end of
the fixed valve body portion to serve as a protective cap. In an example
of an embodiment, the gas is supplied at about 40 pounds per square inch
and reduced by the regulator to about one-half pounds per square inch and
the valve may be of the Schraeder valve type with the exception that the
fixed valve body portion is preferably integral with the body of the
fitting.
While this invention as shown and described in what is considered to be a
practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may
be made within the spirit and scope of this invention which should,
therefore, not be limited except as set forth in the following claims and
within the doctrine of equivalents.
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